Stacy, co-owner of a family-run diesel repair business, shares her 20-year journey from a driveway startup to a 35-person company recognized as one of Seattle's best places to work. She discusses the critical importance of networking with other shop owners, explaining how consulting groups and industry connections provided invaluable learning opportunities and lasting friendships. The conversation explores strategies for managing predictable business changes, from seasonal slowdowns to major disruptions like COVID-19, emphasizing the need for proactive planning rather than reactive responses. Stacy details how she implemented AI solutions, managed workforce challenges during the pandemic, and created systems to handle predictable problems. The discussion covers the evolution from working in the business to working on the business, the importance of executive thinking time, and how to turn competitors into collaborative resources. Throughout, she emphasizes that most business challenges are predictable and manageable with proper preparation, and that networking provides both practical solutions and emotional support for business owners in the heavy repair industry. (Summary written with the help of AI)